Apparatus for dyeing, scouring, or otherwise treating yarn and other fibers in the hank or skein



Dec. 24- 1,519,770

H. M. DUDLEY APPARATUS FOR DYEING, SCOURING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING YARN AND OTHER FIBERS IN THE HANK 0R SKEIN Filed Aug. 24, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec, 16, H. M. DUDLEY APPARATUS FOR DYEING, SCOURING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING YARN AND OTHER FIBERS IN THE HANK OR SKEIN Filed Aug. 24, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 x H. M. DUDLEY APPARATUS FOR DYEING, SCOURING, OR OTHERWISE TREATING YARN AND OTHER FIBERS IN THE HANK OR SKE IN Filed Aug. 24, 1921' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec, 1%, 192410 hi it "li it r i "l" E S HOWARD HI. DUDLEY, OF EHILADELP' IA,

JEN

ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE FIFTY-I A CORPQRATIONOF NEW" rnnnsrrwnra, assrsnoa, BY MESNE v roan, or new roan, n. "in,

were it as FIBEBb IN TIE-IE 03311 S Application filed august 24, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Howano M. DUDLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Fennsylvania, have invent ed c rtain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Dyeing, Scouring, or Otherwise Treating Yarn and Other Fibers in the Hank or Skein, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that type of machine in which the hanks or skeins of yarn or fiber to be dyed or otherwise treated are suspended from sticks. and dip into a closed tank or chamber containing the dyeing or treating liquid, and in which provision is made for moving such liquid; preferably in a plurality of directions, in order that all portions of such skeins or hanks of yarn or other fibers shall be subjected equally to the action of the same.

One object or" my invention is to provide a frame or support for the yarn-carrying sticks. in which the latter are movable, so that when the dyeing or treating liquid is being moved therein in one direction, it will have a tendency to lift said sticks, and the yarn with the same, and in such action will cause a separation between the sticks and the yarn supported thereby at the point of contact with said sticks whereby such contacting portion, which is more or less dinicult of acccss by the liquid, shall receive as great an amount ot contact with the liquid as the balance of the skein or hank.

A. further object of my invention is to so arrange the stick supporting means that said sticks are independently movable therein under the influence of the pressure of the moving liquid.

A further object of my present invention is to provide simple and etlicient means for retaining the yarnor fiber-carrying sticks against endwise movement in the supports provided for the same, and a still further object of my invention is to provide guards for the hanks or skeins of yarn when the sticks carrying the same are subjected to vertical movement under the influence of the pressure exerted by the moving body of liquid when passing through the dyeing or treating chamber.

In my present construction, the rails sup-' porting the yarnor fiber-carryin sticks are Serial held in a fixed position, and are provided with slots receiving said sticks, such slots may be vertically disposed and permit vert'cal movement of the sticks with respect to the rails: the latter rising when the dyeing or treating liquid is moved in one direction, that is to say upwardly, in the chamber in which said hanks or skeins of yarn are suspended, and falling when the liquid moves in the opposite direction. In this way the desired movement of the skeins or hanks in an upward direction whereby the upper portion of the same may have independent movementwith respect to the sticks is provided for, in order that all portions of the yarn or fiber may be subjected to proper contact with the dyeing or treating liquid, insuring complete action of the liquid upon the yarn or fiber, and avoiding all danger of stick marks or undyed or untreated portions.

To avoid the possibility of the yarn or lib-er being caught between the sticks and the slots of the supporting rails, I may provide the latter with guard plates through which the ends of the sticks pass. In one in stance I may provide continuous guard plates, disposed in suitable frames carried by the rails so as to rise and fall therein with the rising and falling movement of the sticks due to the pressure exerted by the moving liquid. In another arrangement, the separate sticks may be provided with in dividual guard plates, disposed for movement in separate recesses provided therefor in continuous frames carried by the respective rails, wherebv each stick is independently movable under the pressure exerted by the moving liquid.

To prevent the sticks moving endwise in the rails, the latter may be provided with cover plates which overlie the ends of the sticks and extend longitudinally of the rails; such cover plates being hinged at top or bottom to the rails, as may be preferred, and being also provided. with locking means to hold them to the rails and insure retention of the sticks. hen it is desired to remove any one or more of the sticks or to insert the same, either one of the plates may be swung on its hinges; thereby permitting proper access to the sticks.

These and other features army invention are more fully set forth hereinafter, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a dyeing vat or tank in which my i1nproved stick supporting means may be mounted.

Fig. 2, is a cross sectional view of the same, on the line IIH, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a sectional plan view on a larger scale, of a portion oi the stick carrying frame.

Fig. 4, is a front elevation oi the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, is a similar front elevation, showing the retaining means for preventing endwise movement of the sticks in the displaced position.

Fig. 6, is an enlarged sectional view on the line VIVI, Fig. 4, showing one of the yarn or fiber carrying sticks in one position.

Fig. 7, is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 6, showing the yarn carrying stick in a dii ferent position.

Fig. 8, is a view similar to Fig. 3, on a slightly larger scale, illustrating a modified construction within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 9, is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 8, partly broken away to more clearly indicate certain details of construction.

Fig. 10, is a front elevation similar to Fig. 5, showing the stick retaining means in the displaced position.

Fig. 11. is a sectional view on the line El -XI, Fig. 9.

Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views illustrating details of construction and the manner in which the yarn or fibercarrying sticks and the guard plates operate under the influence of the pressure on erted by the moving liquid, and

Fig. 16, is a longitudinal sectional View, partly broken away, of a chamber or tank containing my improved stick supporting means, and illustrating modified means for effecting movement of the dyeing or treating liquid therein.

in the drawings, 1 represents a suitable r t or tank with an internal chamber 2, in which hanks or skeins of yarn or other fibers, indicated at X, are to be dyed, scoured, or otherwise'treated. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the chamber maybe. of the type having a partition 4, providing an auxiliary chamber 5, in which means for moving the liquid through the chamber containing the hanks or sk'eins of yarn or other fiber may be mounted; such means comprising in the present instance, a propeller wheel 8, mounted on" a shaft 9, which may pass through the cover 10, of the tank or vat.

To this shaft may be applied any suitable driving" mechanism, which should be arranged to drive the propeller wheel in both directions so as to move liquid in two directions in the tank or vat for contact with the hanks or skeins of yarn disposed in the chamber 2. As may be readily understood, movement of said propeller wheel in the direction of arrow 0, will cause the liquid to more downwardly in the chamber 2 and upwardly in the chamber 5; passing under the partition 4, while movement of said propeller wheel in the direction of the arrow 6 will reverse the direction of flow of the dyeing or treating liquid.

Suspended from the cover 10, of the tank or vat, a frame or carrier for the hanks or skeins of yarn or other fiber. This frame may comprise a pair of rails 12, hung from said cover by straps 13, and such rails are provided with slots 14, in which the sticks 15 may rest, such slotspermitting vertical movement of the sticks under the influence of the pressure exerted by the moving liquid. These sticks may be round as indicated at 15, or rectangular as indicated at 1 5. in order to prevent endwise movement of the sticks 15 or 15 with respect to the rails 12, I provide cover plates 16, which may extend the length of the rails; such cover plates being hinged to said rails at 17 and provided with retaining means 17 whereby they may be held in the closed position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, et' seq.

By reason of the slotted rail arrangement in which the sticks are free to move, and to prevent all danger of the hanks or skeins of yarn or other fiber catching in these slots during the rise and fall of the'sticks carrying the same, I may provide protective means for the yarn orfiber 1n the form of movable guard plates 20, apert'u're'd at 21, for the passage of the sticks, and retained in place by suitable frames 22, carried by said rails. The guard plates may be in the form of continuous member as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, etc;, orthey may be in the form of an independent or individual plate whereby each stick has independent movement in respect to the others, as illustrated in Figs.

8, 9, 10, et seq. As indicated, the plates 20' are free to rise and fall with the sticks, fully covering the slots 14 in the railsin any vertical position such sticks may assume, as-

indicated in the diagrammatic views, Figs. 12 and 13.

In Figs. 8, 9, 10, et seq;, I have shown an arrangement in which independent guard plates 20, are provided for the separate sticks; such independent guard plates being free to rise and fall with the sticks in recesses 25, oi a frame 22 supporting the same, and carried by the rails in which the sticks are mounted. The, construction is otherwise similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1,2, 3, etc, with similar hinged cover plates 18. for holding the sticks inposition against endwis'el movement. In this arrangement,

the sticks are free to rise independently and they may occupy various positions with re spect to each other due to the pressure or the liquid eizerted thereon in its movement in opposite directions through the dyeing or treating chamber, as clearly indicated in the diagrammatic views, Figs. H and 15.

The sectional views Figs. 6 and 7, which are drawn to a larger scale, show the position the guard plates 29 with respect to the rails when the sticks are in the upper or lower positions. F 11, shows a similar s ctional view of one of the rails provided with indi idual guard plates for the sticks.

Above the rails 12, supporting the StlCKS 15, as illustrated in Fig. l, i provide a toraminous partition which may comprise supports 24', suitably carried by the stick supporting t'rame so as to be removable therewith, with paralleling cross-bars 28, extending between said supports.

The lower ends of the skeins are provided with sticks 30, designed to prevent undue rise of the hanks or skeins of yarn or other fiber when the moving liquid is rising in the chamber in which such hanks or skeins are disposed. These sticks may be carried by side rails 31, supported by depending members 32, hung from the side rails 12, and as these sticks 30 are also removable, the side rails 31 may have hingedcover plates or members to retain them in place.

Below the hanks or skeins of yarn, a second foraminous partition may be provided, extending between the end wall of the chamber 2 and the partition d; the same being made up of side supports 27 and paralleling cross-bars 28*.

In Figs. 12 and 13, I have illustrated the action of the moving liquid upon the sticks when mounted as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, et seq, and it will be noted that when. the liquid is moved upwardly in the chamber in which the hanks or skeins of yarn are suspended, the pressure of the same will tend to lift the sticks, and with them the yarn, and additionally. such pressure ill also tend to raise the yarn from the sticks so that such pressure of the yarn normally in engagement with the sticks and not receiving under usual conditions sufiicient amount of dyeing or treating liquid, will be subjected to the full action of the moving liquid no matter what the character of the same may be. Figs. 14; and 15, show similar action in connection with yarn or fiber-carrying sticks having: individual guard plates. In this connection, it may be noted that as the guard plates are individual, each stick is free to respond to the pressure of the moving liquid directly adjacent such stick and the hank or skein carried thereby.

In the structure shown in Fig. 16, the means for effecting circulation of the dyeing or treating liquid within the tank are shown as disposed externally of the same, and they may com rise a conduit 35, communicating with a pair of passages and 37, provided with valves 38 and 39, and forming alternately inlet and. discharge passages in re istry with the ports l0 and 41 of i9, t: z, whereby the l quid may be moved in either direction in the eyeing or treating chamber as 7 be desired: a rotary pump 4L2 suitably driven, bciir preferably employed to more the liquid. The arrangement of the yarn-carrying sticks and accessories substantially the same as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 8, et seq.

In order that the moving liquid may be prevented from setting up currents or eddies which would tend to pass through one por t on is the hanks or skeins and omit other portions or". the same, the interior of the dye ing' or treating chamber is preferably provided with a series oi bafiie plates lf'i and 46: those indicated at being carried by the top or cover 10. of: the dyeing or treating chamber, while those indicated at L6, may be carried at the bottom of the same. It will be understood, of course, that a greater or less number of ballic plates, capable of performing the desired function, may be employed, as desired.

l Vhile l have referred to my apparatus as applied to the dyeing of hanks or skeins of yarn or other fibers, it will be understood, of course, that such apparatus may be employed in the washing of hanks or skeins of yarn or other fibers, or such other treatment with a liquid body to which it may be desirable to subject such hanks or skeins.

I claim:

1. In a fiber-treating machine, the combination of a tank or vat in which skeins or hanks of yarn or fiber may be suspended, a pair of slotted rails, sticks supporting said skeins or hanks adapted to the slots of said rail, and means for protecting said hanks or skeins and preventing entanglement in said slots.

In a fiber-treating; machine, the combination of a tank or vat in which skeins or banks of yarn or fiber may be suspended, a slotted rail, sticks supporting said skeins or hanks adapted to the slots of said rail, and guard plates carried by said sticks adjacent to said slotted rail.

3. lln a fibertreating machine, the combination of a tank or vat in which skeins or hanks of yarn or fiber may be suspended, a pair of slotted rails, sticks supporting" said skeins or hanks adapted to the slots of said rail, guard. plates carried by said sticks adjacent to said slotted rail, and frames carried by the rails in which said guard plates mav rise and fall.

4. In a fiber treating machine, in combination, a tank "or vat, a supporting frame disposed within said tank and including a pair of spaced supporting rails, supporting members for material under treatment car ried by said rails for removal to permit said material to be placed thereon or removed, and a locking plate for locking said supporting members in place, said locking plate being permanently attached to one of said rails for swinging to or from looking position.

F. In a fiber treating machine, in combination, a tank or vat, a supporting frame disposed within said tank including a pair of spaced supporting rails having an elongated slot therein, a supporting member for the material under treatment mounted in said slot and being bodily movable longitudinally thereof and removable therefrom to permit said material to be placed thereon or removed, and a locking plate at least as wide as the longitudinal dimension of said slot for locking said supporting members in place in any position thereof in said slot, said locking plate being permanently at tached to one of said rails to swing to or from looking position thereon.

6. In a fiber-treating machine, the combination of a tank or vat, a yarn or fibersupporting frame disposed within the said tank comprising a pair of slotted rails, yarn or fiber carrying sticks adapted to the slots in said rails, and continuous guard plates carried by said sticks and covering the slots in the rails.

7. In a fiber-treating machine, the combination of tank or vat, a yarn or fiber-supporting frame disposed within the said tank comprising a pair of slotted rails, yarn or fiber carrying sticks adapted to slots in said rails, continuous guard plates carried by said sticks and covering the slots in the rails, and frames carried by the rails in which said guard plates may rise and fall.

8. In a fiber-treating machine, the combi nation of a tank or vat, a yarn or fiber-sup porting frame disposed within the said tank comprising a pair of slotted rails, yarn or fiber-carrying sticks adapted to the slots in said rails, means for preventing endwise movement of said sticks in said rails, and continuous guard plates carried by said sticks covering the slots in the rails.

9, in a fiber-treating machine, the combination of a tank or vat, a frame therein for supporting hanks or skeins of yarn or fiber, slotted rai carried by said frame, sticks mounted in the slots of said rails, guard plates connected to said sticks and mounted movement with respect to said rails, and hinged cover plates for holding the sticks against endwise movement.

10. In a fiber treating machine, in combination, a tank or vat in which the material under treatment may be suspended, a slotted rail, supporting members for said material adapted to the slots of said rail for movement therein, and protecting means movable ith said supporting members for preventing entanglement of said material in said slots.

in witness whereof I have signed this specification.

I-IOl VARD- M. DUDLEY. 

